On the morning of Jan. 12, staff at the Dallas Zoo loaded 7-year-old Mshindi into the back of a truck and wished him well as he began a nearly 1,500-mile journey.
About 21 hours later, the chimpanzee was whisked out of his crate and into quarantine at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he’ll spend a month before being introduced to his new California troop.
Staff at the Dallas Zoo were sad to see him go, but Mshindi’s mission is bigger than himself.
The young chimp’s move is the first in a series of changes at both institutions that will eventually lead to the growth of the endangered species.
A journey months in the making
Mshindi’s move to Los Angeles was recommended through the chimpanzee species survival plan created through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which accredits both zoos.
Zoos accredited through the association meet every other year to create a breeding and transfer plan based on the genetics of the animals and the…